| LIVE UPDATES Monday, May 19 - TRACK CLOSED |
NOTES: Updates are listed with most recent post at the top. If you have any specific questions that I can
answer regarding activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, please e-mail them to me HERE and I'll do
my best to post a response below.
Monday, May 19 PHOTOS (Track Closed - Photos actually from final hours of Bump Day 5-18)
UPDATES:
11:00 am
INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifying Sunday for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed:
1. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 226.366
2. (10) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 226.110
3. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 226.080
4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 225.733
5. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 225.197
6. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 224.794
7. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 224.417
8. (4T) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 224.346
9. (27) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 223.887
10. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 223.835
11. (12) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 223.496
12. (99) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 222.539
13. (06) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 222.531
14. (14) Darren Manning, Dallara-Honda, 222.430
15. (18) Bruno Junqueira, Dallara-Honda, 222.330
16. (02) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 222.267
17. (15) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 222.101
18. (22) Davey Hamilton, Dallara-Honda, 222.017
19. (16) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 221.788
20. (17T) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 221.579
21. (24) John Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 221.550
22. (67) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 221.246
23. (8) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 221.136
24. (41) Jeff Simmons, Dallara-Honda, 221.103
25. (5) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 220.767
26. (33) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 220.356
27. (23) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 220.305
28. (19) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 219.716
29. (36) Enrique Bernoldi, Dallara-Honda, 219.422
30. (34) Jaime Camara, Dallara-Honda, 219.345
31. (2) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 219.184
32. (91) Buddy Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 219.015
33. (25) Marty Roth, Dallara-Honda, 218.965
12:00 pm
WOW! I'm still recovering from that final half-hour of Bump Day! That was really, really exciting (for me, at least -
not so much for the three drivers who were bumped). I wasn't sure how much real activity we'd see yesterday
based on the number of crashed machinery that happened over the previous few days, but what we did have was
spectacular.
"Ironman" Buddy Lazier showed why he's an Indy 500 champion when he managed to push his #91 far beyond
what it had ever done since the Hemelgarn-Johnson team got on track Friday and stuck him and his veteran crew
into the field at the last minute. Add to the fact that they had to put a setup on the car that was basically untested
this weekend to compensate for the 30 mph winds that were swirling around this amazing 2.5-mile facility, and it
was a first-class effort all the way around. A veteran team that has been together forever combined with a
champion's instinct and plain guts put Buddy into the field after a last-minute entry by his team which never got
him on track until last Friday. Davey Hamilton's blown Honda engine was the first failure by that manufacturer in 13
months - an amazing string of reliability.
Buddy Lazier claimed the Firestone Fast Qualifier Award and its $50,000 prize for being the final qualifier.
A.J. Foyt IV claimed the Red Gold Red Zone Award and its $10,000 prize for the fastest single lap during a
qualifying effort on Bump Day - his second lap was 219.412 mph.
Bump Day is one of my most favorite days of the whole month, albeit a sad one at times. After being here working
every day, and seeing the tremendous effort the teams and drivers put together - enduring wacky weather,
crashes, and big drama every day - then realizing that some teams will have to pack up at the end of that day and
miss the race is really sad. I know, I know. It's part of the history and tradition, and everyone knows that it's a
possibility when they enter this race (yes, even the big teams realize they could be foiled by this fickle place). But
that doesn't take away from how important this is to everyone who works around the year to make this show - to
their teams, their sponsors, their families, and even for their livelihoods. Simply getting into the race can set a
team or driver up for an entire year and, depending on how he/she does in the race, it can even launch a highly
successful racing career.
Today is a quiet day at the track for the teams and the media. I am currently the only person - besides a few staff
members - in the fourth floor of the media center (as usual on off days). Teams are still recovering from an
eventful Bump Day - either the celebration of making the field or the realization they are going home (or many just
from a night out partying at the annual Mechanic's Party held last night). Many of the qualified teams are allowed
to take today off, but some still put in a full day's work in Gasoline Alley.
Gloomy weather is looming today after a sunny start to the day. Temps here at IMS are in the low 60s. However,
good news is around the corner as the rest of this race week appears to be blessed by Mother Nature, as we're
supposed to see temps around 70-75 degrees, and only a small chance for showers (currently on Monday NO
chance for rain on Race Day, but we all know what that means...nothing).
Indy Racing Experience two-seater is circling the track, even though it looks to be rained out soon.
A total of 43 cars are currently at the Speedway and have passed technical inspection. Thirty-eight drivers have
been on the track to date and have turned 13,262 laps this month. A total of 96 IndyCar Series and Firestone
Indy Lights drivers have passed physicals at the Clarian Emergency Medical Center.
The track is closed today and tomorrow. Wednesday in 500 Festival Community Day. Thursday's schedule is as
follows:
9am - Public Gates Open
9-9:45am - Firestone Indy Lights Practice
11-11:45am - Firestone Indy Lights Practice
1:15am - SWE Pole Qualifying
* Admission to Thursday's activities is FREE
answer regarding activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, please e-mail them to me HERE and I'll do
my best to post a response below.
Monday, May 19 PHOTOS (Track Closed - Photos actually from final hours of Bump Day 5-18)
UPDATES:
11:00 am
INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifying Sunday for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed:
1. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 226.366
2. (10) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 226.110
3. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 226.080
4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 225.733
5. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 225.197
6. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 224.794
7. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 224.417
8. (4T) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 224.346
9. (27) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 223.887
10. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 223.835
11. (12) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 223.496
12. (99) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 222.539
13. (06) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 222.531
14. (14) Darren Manning, Dallara-Honda, 222.430
15. (18) Bruno Junqueira, Dallara-Honda, 222.330
16. (02) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 222.267
17. (15) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 222.101
18. (22) Davey Hamilton, Dallara-Honda, 222.017
19. (16) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 221.788
20. (17T) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 221.579
21. (24) John Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 221.550
22. (67) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 221.246
23. (8) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 221.136
24. (41) Jeff Simmons, Dallara-Honda, 221.103
25. (5) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 220.767
26. (33) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 220.356
27. (23) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 220.305
28. (19) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 219.716
29. (36) Enrique Bernoldi, Dallara-Honda, 219.422
30. (34) Jaime Camara, Dallara-Honda, 219.345
31. (2) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 219.184
32. (91) Buddy Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 219.015
33. (25) Marty Roth, Dallara-Honda, 218.965
12:00 pm
WOW! I'm still recovering from that final half-hour of Bump Day! That was really, really exciting (for me, at least -
not so much for the three drivers who were bumped). I wasn't sure how much real activity we'd see yesterday
based on the number of crashed machinery that happened over the previous few days, but what we did have was
spectacular.
"Ironman" Buddy Lazier showed why he's an Indy 500 champion when he managed to push his #91 far beyond
what it had ever done since the Hemelgarn-Johnson team got on track Friday and stuck him and his veteran crew
into the field at the last minute. Add to the fact that they had to put a setup on the car that was basically untested
this weekend to compensate for the 30 mph winds that were swirling around this amazing 2.5-mile facility, and it
was a first-class effort all the way around. A veteran team that has been together forever combined with a
champion's instinct and plain guts put Buddy into the field after a last-minute entry by his team which never got
him on track until last Friday. Davey Hamilton's blown Honda engine was the first failure by that manufacturer in 13
months - an amazing string of reliability.
Buddy Lazier claimed the Firestone Fast Qualifier Award and its $50,000 prize for being the final qualifier.
A.J. Foyt IV claimed the Red Gold Red Zone Award and its $10,000 prize for the fastest single lap during a
qualifying effort on Bump Day - his second lap was 219.412 mph.
Bump Day is one of my most favorite days of the whole month, albeit a sad one at times. After being here working
every day, and seeing the tremendous effort the teams and drivers put together - enduring wacky weather,
crashes, and big drama every day - then realizing that some teams will have to pack up at the end of that day and
miss the race is really sad. I know, I know. It's part of the history and tradition, and everyone knows that it's a
possibility when they enter this race (yes, even the big teams realize they could be foiled by this fickle place). But
that doesn't take away from how important this is to everyone who works around the year to make this show - to
their teams, their sponsors, their families, and even for their livelihoods. Simply getting into the race can set a
team or driver up for an entire year and, depending on how he/she does in the race, it can even launch a highly
successful racing career.
Today is a quiet day at the track for the teams and the media. I am currently the only person - besides a few staff
members - in the fourth floor of the media center (as usual on off days). Teams are still recovering from an
eventful Bump Day - either the celebration of making the field or the realization they are going home (or many just
from a night out partying at the annual Mechanic's Party held last night). Many of the qualified teams are allowed
to take today off, but some still put in a full day's work in Gasoline Alley.
Gloomy weather is looming today after a sunny start to the day. Temps here at IMS are in the low 60s. However,
good news is around the corner as the rest of this race week appears to be blessed by Mother Nature, as we're
supposed to see temps around 70-75 degrees, and only a small chance for showers (currently on Monday NO
chance for rain on Race Day, but we all know what that means...nothing).
Indy Racing Experience two-seater is circling the track, even though it looks to be rained out soon.
A total of 43 cars are currently at the Speedway and have passed technical inspection. Thirty-eight drivers have
been on the track to date and have turned 13,262 laps this month. A total of 96 IndyCar Series and Firestone
Indy Lights drivers have passed physicals at the Clarian Emergency Medical Center.
The track is closed today and tomorrow. Wednesday in 500 Festival Community Day. Thursday's schedule is as
follows:
9am - Public Gates Open
9-9:45am - Firestone Indy Lights Practice
11-11:45am - Firestone Indy Lights Practice
1:15am - SWE Pole Qualifying
* Admission to Thursday's activities is FREE
